Worth the CostIs spending thousands of dollars worth the cost to make learning and teaching easier? That is the question many school boards ask themselves before deciding if they should switch over from the traditional textbooks to new technology such as iPads, laptops, or other tablets. Tablets are worth the cost in order to help teach students. Although tablets can be expensive for some schools, the tablets should be used in schools because they make learning more relevant for students, make learning have differentiation for students, and make teaching easier for teachers. Many people argue that the cost is unbearable for the tablets because not only does the school have to buy the tablet, but it must also pay for internet, and even the wifi routers. Cost seems to come up more than anything because people also say that the price of repairing is very expensive and fixes are needed too often. Pilar Quezzaire states in his article, “Opponents of laptop schools feel that laptops are a distraction to students and that they are used for social, rather than academic purposes” (Quezzaire par. 6). The fact that students can sometimes get distracted is understandable because people would think that kids would want to go on social sites, but the overall learning experience will be worth the risk of a few kids checking Twitter. Although textbooks are a reliable source, they are bland and do not provide students with new, interesting ways to learn like tablets and new technology can. The Article “Laptops in Schools” explains, “Teacher surveys indicated that laptop programs might have increased school attendance rates, and teachers reported more student interest and class participation” (“Laptops in Schools” par. 13). Having these new technologies available for students makes them want to attend school and use them. Not all students can access the same types of technologies in their homes. Quezzaire also states, “The quality of student work also rose, along with grades, especially those of disadvantaged and at-risk students” (Quezzaire par. 20). This shows that teens can take an interest towards learning if they can do it in a more enjoyable way. “Laptops in Schools” also states, “The Department of Education estimated in 2005 that only eight percent of U.S. public schools had laptop programs, and that many of the students in those schools did not have 1-to-1 access” (“Laptops in Schools” par. 12). This means that not all the students are able to obtain laptops because having a 1-to-1 school is having a laptop or tablet for every student in the school. However, this does not decrease the overall interest of the students towards the laptops in their schools. Tablets and new technologies in schools make the learning experience easier in many ways that allow for students to grasp the common knowledge of technology quicker. Quezzaire says “Their [student] scores on their government tests do not increase dramatically, but the skills they are developing: to ask essential questions, research, evaluate, collaborate, process, mix and remix, and publish their findings - learning to be active learners in a rapidly changing world - these skills are not tested” (qtd. by Quezzaire par. 22). When schools get used to having them and add specific learning agendas, then maybe they will see a growth in test scores. The skills they learn from having access to the laptops will stick with them for the rest of their lives because technology such as laptops and tablets are becoming a part of everyday life in personal lives and work forces. Not only do these technologies make it easier for students in school, but give teachers an easier way to teach students when they learn how to use them. Not all teachers are “tech savvy” and know how to use everything technology related. Whenever they learn how to use the laptops in ways to get teaching across to students better, they can make teaching easier for them by posting assignments to websites and not worrying about dealing with misplacing papers, or not knowing who turned things in late. Stephanie Creech states in her article, “Vogelman said about 80 percent of the technology teachers use in the classroom is more than 10 years old. Teachers need updated computers in order to effectively upload, access and use digital content now available on the state's Home Base data system” (Creech par.3). If the schools buy new computers for teachers, they will be able to use the new features that are made every year. There are online classrooms that can be accessed from home if kids need to do homework and save online so the students do not have to worry about flash drives and teachers can check in on the assignments at anytime. In conclusion, laptops and other technologies in schools might be expensive, but the increase in the overall learning experience that makes students want to learn is well worth the cost. Not all schools have to go 1-to-1 to make kids enjoy learning more. Some schools have just certain classes with the laptops that still make students more interested in coming to school. The cost for getting new technology in schools is well worth it because they allow for students to want to learn, teach different ways that textbooks or teachers can alone, and they make maintaining a class easier for teachers overall. Works Cited Creech, Stephanie. "Schools Ordering New Laptops for Teachers." Wilson Daily Times (NC)., 18 Mar. 2014. Web. 1 Dec. 2015. “Laptops in Schools.” Issues & Controversies. Infobase Learning, 11 Jan. 2008. Web. 1 Dec. 2015. Quezzaire, Pilar. "Laptops in School: an Overview." Points of View Reference Center, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2015. |